Modern Hebrew – Daniel Klerman

Summer 2020-present
Dan Klerman
Sundays and Thursdays 7-8PM

5/4/2023. The class continues, but I am no longer updating this webpage.

For the zoom address, email dklerman@law.usc.edu. For security reasons, I am not posting the zoom address on the webpage.

Class Recordings

2020 Recordings

June 2020

Click here for a recording of the first class.
Click here for a recording of the second class.
Click here for a recording of the third class.
Click here for a recording of the 4th class.
Click here for a recording of the 5th class.
Click here for a recording of the 6th class (Su 6/28)
Click here for a recording of the 7th class.
For unknown reasons, the 8th class does not seem to have been recorded.

July 2020

Click here for a recording of the 9th class (Su 7/5)
Click here for a recording of the 10th class
Click here for a recording of the 11th class
Click here for a recording of the 12th class (Su 7/12)
Click here for a recording of the 13th class
Click here for a recording of the 14th class
Click here for a recording of the 15th class (Su 7/19)
Click here for a recording of the Tuesday 7/21 class.
Click here for a recording of the Thursday 7/23 class
Click here for a recording of the Sunday 7/26 class
Click here for a recording of the Tuesday 7/28 class
Click here for a recording of the Thursday 7/30 class

August 2020

Click here for a recording of the Sunday 8/2 class.
Click here for a recording of the Tuesday 8/4 class.
Click here for a recording of the Thursday 8/6 class.
Click here for a recording of the Sunday 8/9 class.
Click here for a recording of the Tuesday 8/11 class
Click here for a recording of the Thursday 8/13 class
Click here for a recording of the Sunday 8/16 class.
Click here for a recording of the Thursday 8/20 class
Click here for a recording of the Sunday 8/23 class.
Click here for a recording of the Thursday 8/27 class.
Click here for a recording of the Sunday 8/30 class.

September 2020

Click here for a recording of the Thursday 9/3 class
Click here for a recording of the Sunday 9/6 class
Click here for a recording of the Thursday 9/10 class
Click here for a recording of the Sunday 9/13 class
Click here for a recording of the Thursday 9/17 class
Click here for a recording of the Thursday 9/24 class

October 2020

Click here for a recording of the Thursday 10/1 class
Click here for a recording of the Sunday 10/4 class
Click here for a recording of the Thursday 10/8 class
Click here for a recording of the Sunday 10/11 class
Click here for a recording of the Thursday 10/15 class
Click here for a recording of the Sunday 10/18 class
Click here for a recording of the Thursday 10/22 class
Click here for a recording of the Sunday 10/25 class
Click here for a recording of the Thursday 10/29 class

November 2020

Click here for a recording of the Sunday 11/1 class.
For unknown reasons, the Thursday 11/5 class was not recorded
Click here for a recording of the Sunday 11/8 class.
Click here for a recording of the Thursday 11/12 class.
Click here for a recording of the Sunday 11/15 class.
Click here for a recording of the Thursday 11/19 class.
Click here for a recording of the Sunday 11/22 class.
Click here for a recording of the Sunday 11/29 class.

December 2020

Click here for a recording of the Thursday 12/3 class.
Click here for a recording of the Sunday 12/6 class.
Click here for a recording of the Thursday 12/10 class.
For unknown reasons, the Sunday 12/13 class was not recorded.
Click here for a recording of the Thursday 12/17 class.
Click here for a recording of the Sunday 12/20 class.
Click here for a recording of the Thursday 12/24 class.
Click here for a recording of the Sunday 12/27 class.
There was no class on Thursday 12/31

2021 Recordings

January 2021

Click here for a recording of the Sunday 1/3/2021 class
Click here for a recording of the Thursday 1/7 class
Click here for a recording of the Sunday 1/10/2021 class
Click here for a recording of the Thursday 1/14 class
No class Sunday 1/17
Click here for a recording of the Thursday 1/21 class.
Click here for a recording of the Sunday 1/24 class.
Click here for a recording of the Thursday 1/28 class.
Click here for a recording of the Sunday 1/31 class.

February 2021

Click here for a recording of the Thursday 2/4 class.
Click here for a recording of the Sunday 2/7 class.
Class on Thursday 2/11 was cancelled because of the special CNT meeting.
Click here for a recording of the Sunday 2/14 class
Click here for a recording of the Thursday 2/18 class
Click link for a recording of the Sunday 2/21 class
No class 2/25 (purim)
Click here for a recording of the Sunday 2/28 class

March 2021

Click here for a recording of the Thursday 3/4 class
Click here for a recording of the Sunday 3/7 class
Click here for a recording of the Thursday 3/11 class
No class Sunday 3/14
Click here for a recording of the Thursday 3/18 class
Click here for a recording of the Sunday 3/21 class.
Click here for a recording of the Thursday 3/25 class.
No class Sunday 4/1 (Passover, 2nd seder)

April 2021

Click here for a recording of the Thursday 4/1 class
Click here for a recording of the Sunday 4/4 class
Click here for a recording of the Thursday 4/8 class
Click here for a recording of the Sunday 4/11 class
Click here for a recording of the Thursday 4/15 class
Click here for a recording of the Sunday, 4/18 class
No class Thursday 4/22
Click here for a recording of the Sunday 4/25 class
No class Thursday 4/29 (CNT Gala Week wine tasting)

May 2021

Click here for recording of the Saturday 5/2 class
Click here for a recording of the Thursday 5/6 class
No class Sunday 5/9 (Mother’s Day)
Click here for a recording of the Thursday 5/13 class
No class Sunday 5/16 (Shavuot)
Click here for a recording of the Thursday 5/20 class
Click here for a recording of the Sunday 5/23 class
Click here for a recording of the Thursday 4/27 class
Click here for a recording of the Sunday 5/30 class

June 2021

Click here for a recording of the Thursday 6/3 class
Click here for a recording of the Sunday 6/6 class
Click here for a recording of the Thursday 6/10 class
Click here for a recording of the Sunday 6/13 class
Click here for a recording of the Thursday 6/17 class
No class Sunday 6/20 (Fathers’ Day)
Click here for a recording of the Thursday 6/24 class
Click here for a recording of the Sunday 6/27 class

July 2021

Click here for a recording of the Thursday 7/1 class
No class on 7/4 (4th of July)
No class Thursday July 8
For unknown reasons, the Sunday 7/11 class was not recorded.
Click here for a recording of the Thursday July 15 class
Click here for a recording of the Sunday July 18 class
Click here for a recording of the Thursday July 22 class
Click here for a recording of the Sunday July 25 class
Click here for a recording of the Thursday July 29 class

August 2021

Click here for a recording of the Sunday August 1 class
No class Thursday August 5
Click here for a recording of the Sunday August 8 class
Click here for a recording of the Thursday August 12 class (audio only)
No class Sunday 8/15 because of CNT Deli Night
Click here for a recording of the Thursday August 19 class
Click here and here for a recording of the Sunday August 22 class (had to stop and restart zoom, so two recordings)
Click here for a recording of the Thursday August 26 class
Click here for a recording of the Sunday August 29 class

September 2021

Click here for a recording of the Thursday, September 2 class
Click here for a recording of the Sunday, September 5 class
Click here for a recording of the Thursday, September 9 class
Click here for a recording of the Sunday, September 12 class
No class Thursday, September 16 (Yom Kippur)
No class Sunday, September 19 (Board Meeting)
Click here for a recording of the Thursday, September 23 class
Click here for a recording of the Sunday, September 26 class
No class Thursday, September 30

October 2021

Click here and here for a recording of the Sunday October 3 class
No class Thursday October 7
Click here for a recording of the Sunday October 10 class
Click here for a recording of the Thursday, October 14 class
Click here for a recording of the Sunday, October 17 class
Click here for a recording of the Thursday, October 21 class
Click here for a recording of the Sunday, October 24 class
Click here for a recording of the Thursday, October 28 class.
Click here for a recording of the Sunday, October 31 class

November 2021

Unfortunately, no recording was made of the Thursday, November 4 class
Click here for a recording of the Sunday, November 7 class
Click here for a recording of the Thursday, November 11 class
Click here for a recording of the Sunday November 14 class
Click here for a recording of the Thursday, November 18 class
Click here for a recording of the Sunday, November 21 class
No class Thursday, November 25 (Thanksgiving)
Click here and here for recordings of the Sunday, November 28 class

December 2021

Click here for a recording of the Thursday December 2 class
No class Sunday 12/4, Thursday 12/9, or Sunday 12/12
Click here for a recording of the Thursday, December 16 class.
Click here for a recording of the Sunday, December 19 class
Click here for a recording of the Thursday, December 24 class
Click here for a recording of the Sunday, December 26 class
Click here for a recording of the Thursday, December 30 class

2022 Recordings

January 2022

Click here for a recording of the Sunday, January 2, 2022 class
Click here for a recording of the Thursday, January 6 class
Click here for a recording of the Sunday, January 9 class
Click here for a recording of the Thursday, January 13 class
Click here for recording of the Sunday, January 16 class
Click here for a recording of the Thursday, January 20 class
Click here for a recording of the Sunday, January 23 class
Click here for a recording of the Thursday, January 27 class.
Click here for a recording of the Sunday, January 30 class.

February 2022

Click here for a recording of the Thursday, February 3 class
Click here for a recording of the Sunday, February 6 class
Click here for a recording of the Thursday, February 10 class
Click here for a recording of the Sunday, February 13 class
Click here for a recording of the Thursday, February 17 class
No class Sunday February 20 (Dan and Lisa’s wedding anniversary)
Click here for a recording of the Thursday, February 24 class
Click here for a recording of the Sunday, February 27 class

March 2022

Click here for a recording of the Thursday, March 3 class
Click here for a recording of the Sunday, March 6 class
Click here for a recording of the Thursday, March 10 class.
No class Sunday March 13
Click here for a recording of the Thursday, March 17 class.
Click here for a recording of the Sunday, March 20 class
No class Thursday, March 24
Click here for a recording of the Sunday, March 27 class
Click here for a recording of the Thursday, March 31 class

April 2022

Click here for a recording of the Sunday, April 3 class
Click here for a recording of the Thursday, April 7 class
Click here for a recording of the Sunday, April 10 class
Click here for a recording of the Thursday, April 14 class
Click here for a recording of the Sunday, April 17 class
Click here for a recording of the Thursday, April 21 class
No class Sunday April 24 (Cantor’s Concert)
No class Thursday, April 28

May 2022

Click here for a recording of the Sunday, May 1 class
Click here for a recording of the Thursday, May 5 class
No class Sunday, May 8
Click here for a recording of the Thursday, May 12 class
Click here for a recording of the Sunday, May 15 class
Click here for a recording of the Sunday, May 22 class
For reasons unknown, there is no recording of the Thursday, May 26 class

June 2022

For reasons unknown, there is no recording of the Thursday, June 2 class
Click here for a recording of the Thursday, June 9 class
June 16 class canceled
Click here for a recording of the Thursday, June 23 class
Click here for a recording of the Sunday, June 26 class
No recording of Thursday, June 30 class (I forgot to press “record”)

July 2022

Click here for a recording of the Sunday, July 3 class
Click here and here for recordings of the Thursday, July 7 class
Click here for a recording of the Sunday, July 10 class
Thursday, July 14 class canceled
Click here for a recording of the Sunday, July 17 class
Click here for a recording of the Thursday, July 21 class
Click here for a recording of the Sunday, July 24 class
Click here for a recording of the Thursday, July 28 class
Click here for a recording of the Sunday, July 31 class

August 2022

No recording of Thursday August 4 or Sunday August 7 class
Click here for a recording of the Thursday, August 11 class
Click here for a recording of the Sunday, August 14 class
Click here for a recording of the Thursday, August 18 class
No class Sunday, August 21
No class Thursday, August 25
No class Sunday, August 28

September 2022

Click here for a recording of the Thursday, September 1 class
Click here for a recording of the Sunday, September 4 class
No recording of Thursday, September 8 class
Click here for a recording of the Sunday, September 11 class
Click here for a recording of the Thursday, September 15 class.
Click here for a recording of the Sunday, September 18 class
Click here for a recording of the Thursday, September 22 class
No class Sunday, September 25 (Rosh Hashanah)
No class Thursday, September 29 (CNT Board Meeting)

October 2022

Click here for a recording of the Sunday, October 2 class
No class Thursday, October 6 (Dan USC conflict)
No class Sunday, October 10 (Erev Sukkot)
No class Thursday, October 13 (Dan USC conflict)
Click here for a recording of the Sunday, October 16 class
Click here and here for recordings of the Thursday, October 20 class
Click here for a recording of the Sunday, October 23 class
No class Thursday, October 27 (Dan USC conflict)
Click here for a recording of the Sunday, October 30 class

November 2022

No class Thursday November 3 (Dan conflict)
No class Sunday, November 6 (Dan conflict)
Click here and here for recordings of the Thursday, November 10 class
Click here for a recording of the Sunday, November 13 class
Click here for a recording of the Thursday, November 17 class
No class Sunday November 20 or Thursday November 24
Click here for a recording of the Sunday, November 27 class

December 2022

Click here for a recording of the Thursday, December 1 class
Click here for a recording of the Sunday, December 4 class
Class canceled Thursday December 8 (Dan USC conflict)
Class canceled Sunday December 11 (Judea Pearl lecture)
No recording of the Thursday, December 15 class (sorry)
Class canceled Sunday, December 18 (1st night of Hanukkah)
Click here for a recording of the Thursday, December 22 class
Class canceled December 25 (Hanukah dinner & movie at CNT)
Click here for a recording of the Thursday, December 29 class

2023 Recordings

January 2023

Click here for a recording of the Sunday, January 1, 2023 class
Click here for a recording of the Thursday, January 5 class.
No class Sunday, January 8
No recording for Thursday, January 12 class (sorry)
Click here for a recording of the Sunday, January 15 class
Click here for a recording of the Thursday, January 19 class
No class Sunday, January 22
Click here for a recording of the Thursday, January 26 class
Technical malfunction, so no recording of the Sunday, January 29 class

February 2023

Click here for a recording of the Thursday, February 2 class
Click here for a recording of the Sunday, February 5 class
Click here for a recording of the Thursday, February 9 class
Click here for a recording of the Sunday, February 12 class
No class Thursday, February 16
Click here for a recording of the Sunday, February 19 class
No class Thursday, February 23
Nor recording Sunday Feb 26

March 2023

Click here for a recording of the Thursday 3/2 class
No recording Sunday 3/5
Click here for a recording of the Thursday 3/9 class
No class Sunday, 3/12
No recording Thursday 3/16
No recording Sunday 3/19
No recording Thursday 3/23
Click here for the recording of the Sunday, March 26 class

See emails for the next class. If you want to receive emails about the class, email dklerman@law.usc.edu.

Web resources

https://context.reverso.net/translation/hebrew-english/. Provides examples of usage in context, translations, and pronunciation.
https://he.wiktionary.org/wiki/. Note that this dictionary is slightly different from the one below – en.wiktionary.org – because the one above is all Hebrew. Unlike the Hebrew-English dictionary below, however, it gives feminine and plural forms with vowels, which is one reason it is very helpful.
pealim.com. Great resource for verbs (and, in fact, all Hebrew words). Tells you the root, tense, and person of a conjugated verb and provides you with full conjugation tables.
en.wiktionary.org. A free online dictionary. If you type Hebrew in the search box, it will translate. For the handout on את the definite direct object marker, click here.
Links on סמיכות (construct, word pairs) using two chapters from a different text book: Chapter 9 and Chapter 10

Links to songs

על שלושה דברים (Chapter 2, p. 75) Click here
אלף בית (Chapter 2, p. 107).ִ Click here
ישׁ לי בית וגיטרה (Chapter 3, p. 138), Click here; For translation click here.
גברת עם סלים (Chapter 4, p. 197), Click here
ולנו יש פלאפל (Chapter 4, p. 197). Click here (additional verses click here and click “More”)
נולדתי לשלום (Chapter 5, p. 239). Click here. Additional verse here.
כאן ביתי (Chapter 5, p. 239). Click here
שנים עשר ירחים (Chapter 6, p. 276). Click here.
בשנה הבאה. (Not in textbook). Click here for song; click here for words and click here for translation.
מדוע ולמה לובשת הזברה פגימה. Click here for song.

Israeli TVַֻ

Srugim (Israeli “Friends” involving modern Orthodox in Jerusalem) (Amazon Prime)
Fauda (Israeli counter-terrorism in Palestinian Territories; violent) (Netflix)
Shtisel (Ultra-Orthodox families in Jerusalem) (Netflix)
היהודים באים (The Jews are Coming). Short satirical skits in Hebrew. Click here (free, no subscription required)
More Israeli TV recommendations:
- Top 5 Israeli TV shows
- 10 of the best Israeli TV shows you must watch.

Textbook

Hebrew From Scratch Part II

The text book we will use starting in March 2022 will be Hebrew From Scratch Part II. I have the 2015 version. I don’t know how different earlier versions are.

Book cover of Hebrew From Scratch Part II

Brandeis Modern Hebrew

The book we used for the first year and a half was Brandeis Modern Hebrew. It is not necessary, but you will probably find it helpful to buy a copy. You can buy it at amazon.

Book cover of Brandeis Modern Hebrew

Quizlet Flashcards

To help you learn the vocabulary, we highly recommend Quizlet, which is a flashcard app that works on all platforms (iPhone, iPad, Android, Windows, Mac). For a link with Quizlet flashcards for:

You will probably need to download the Quizlet app from the relevant App store.

Duolingo

To reinforce what you are learning and to practice listening to a native Hebrew speaker, we also highly recommend Duolingo, a free app for iPhone and Android. Duolingo teaches things in a slightly different order than Brandeis Modern Hebrew, but the order and topics are close enough that we think you’ll find it helpful. It is set up so you can use if for 5 minutes at a time. (Dan uses it when in the bathroom. TMI). You can set your own “goal” (5 minutes per day, 10 minutes per day, etc.). We suggest 10 minutes per day, but choose whatever works best for you. We also suggest you decline/turn off all reminders, because most people find them more annoying than helpful.

Hebrew cursive

For this class, it will be very helpful if you can write Hebrew cursive/script. For a chart showing how to write Hebrew cursive/script, click here.